Full Cream Water

What is the ideal shutter speed to turn gushing water into a dreamy blur? Half to one second would be a good starting point. There is no hard rule as the outcome or creamy effect will depend on the speed of the flow and the angle.

It can be slower but you would probably need an ND or polarizing filter to cut down the light. If you don’t have those filters, go later in the day when sunlight is less harsh or find a shady spot. A tripod will come in handy but you can also place the camera on a rock. Trigger the camera with the 2-sec self timer to eliminate shake.

The effect works better if the waterfall, river or stream is cascading. You don’t need a big waterfall to experiment, though. This was from a small stream in Hulu Langat.

Steam Stream

Moon River

Moon River is a giant monsoon drain under the overpass in Air Panas. To enhance the blusish mood, I set the camera’s white balance preset to tungsten indoor setting. I also exposed it using an 8-second exposure hoping to streak the traffic criss-crossing on the highway. Unfotunately, there wasn’t much traffic today since it is a Sunday and public holiday. Nevertheless the long exposure required a tripod and wired remote release to eliminate camera shake. Not the best thing to do as the vantage point was really deserted and dark. A pack of stray dogs kept me company. Shhhh… Don’t let any of our housing developers see this. They’ll build some gated-homes and call it a waterfont.Moon River

White Mosque Of Phnom Penh

I was sailing to Tonle Sap in Cambodia when this beautiful white mosque appeared. It was bathed in sunlight while the surrounding riverine village was shaded under clouds. It wasn’t easy nailing the exposure on a shaky boat but I’m quite happy with the results.

Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in South-East Asia and the area is rightfully designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve. My journey began on the mighty Mekong in Phnom Penh and ended near Siem Reap where Angkor Wat is.

White Mosque Of Phnom Penh